British Jews Urged to End “internal Bickering” Within Community

Robert N. Carvalho was elected president of the Anglo-Jewish Association today to succeed Ewen Montagu who resigned the post to accept the presidency of the United Synagogue. Mr. Carvalho’s nomination was supported by British Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie.

In his first presidential address, Mr. Carvalho declared that the AJA was a “voluntary association of men and women who are conscious of our dual heritage as Jews and as Englishmen, and who are determined to maintain that heritage and pass it on to the generations to come.” It was just because of this dual heritage, he continued, that the Anglo-Jewish community has been able to make a real contribution to both Britain and the Jewish people.

Mr. Carvalho called for an end to internal bickering within the Jewish community, and pledged to try to cooperate with other Jewish leaders and organizations on a “live and let live basis.” But, he stressed, this did not mean that he advocated that “people agree to dishonorable compromises” or the sacrifice of principles by way of appeasement. He also touched upon the close links between the AJA and Jews in Israel and other countries.